What Should I Do in the Event of a Red Light Car Accident?

Did you recently get hit at a red light? Maybe someone wasn’t paying attention and rear-ended you. This can be a scary and overwhelming accident!

Car accidents also involve liability. This means you need to know what to do in the event of a car accident at a red light. You might have neck or back injuries or even emotional distress and deserve compensation!

Keep reading to learn how the best car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, NV, can help you with your injuries and other issues.

What To Do If Someone Hits You at a Red Light?

Getting hit at a red light can be a shocking experience, and it’s crucial to know the right steps to protect yourself legally and financially. Let’s explore what you should do if you’re involved in this kind of accident, covering everything from immediate actions to potential compensation.

Common Scenarios in Red Light Accidents

In most red light accidents, the at-fault driver has either ignored the traffic signal or made a risky maneuver that resulted in a collision. According to reports on NBC LA, red light running remains a significant cause of accidents in California, often leading to severe injuries and costly damages. In such a situation, understanding how to assess and document damages is essential.

Q: What damages can be claimed after a red-light accident?
A: After a red-light accident, you can claim damages related to personal injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repairs. If someone else’s negligence caused the crash, they might be liable for these costs.

Immediate Steps to Take After the Accident

1. Ensure Your Safety:
   The first priority is your safety. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe spot out of the flow of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. This helps prevent further accidents and keeps you secure while you assess the situation.
2. Document the Scene:
   Once you’re in a safe place, collect evidence to support your claim. Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle positions, any visible damage, traffic signals, and any skid marks on the road. These details can be crucial for proving fault and estimating repair costs.
3. Collect Information:
   Obtain the other driver’s contact information, insurance details, and license plate number. Additionally, speak with any witnesses at the scene who can support your account of what happened.

Establishing Fault in a Red-Light Accident

Determining who is at fault is vital for any insurance claim or lawsuit. Insurance companies will review police reports, witness statements, and any available video footage. NBC LA has reported that cities are increasingly installing traffic cameras to monitor intersections, which can provide crucial evidence in such cases. Checking if a camera captured your accident may strengthen your claim.

Filing a Claim and Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer

Once you’ve gathered evidence, it’s time to file an insurance claim. In many cases, insurance companies may try to minimize their payouts, so hiring a personal injury lawyer can be advantageous. An experienced attorney can help you negotiate with insurers or file a lawsuit to recover full compensation for your injuries, damages, and any emotional distress you experienced.

Q: When should you hire a personal injury lawyer?
A: If the accident involves severe injuries, extensive vehicle damage, or disputed liability, a personal injury lawyer can be invaluable. They handle the legal process, helping you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

How to Gather Crucial Evidence and Information at the Accident Scene

When you’re involved in an accident, gathering the right information on the scene is essential for protecting your rights and ensuring a smooth insurance process. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what to do after an accident to collect the most effective evidence.

1. Check for Injuries and Call Emergency Services

The very first step after an accident is to assess for any injuries. If there’s even a slight suspicion that anyone is hurt, call an ambulance immediately. Prompt medical attention is crucial, and early documentation can be vital if you decide to pursue compensation for injuries later on. You can learn more about the importance of immediate medical intervention in accidents in articles like those on NBC Los Angeles.

2. Contact the Police and File an Accident Report

Once you’ve checked for injuries, call the police to report the accident. An official accident report can be a valuable asset if disputes arise. When the police arrive, provide a clear, accurate account of the incident and make sure your statements are well-documented in their report. This report could be instrumental in any claims or legal actions that follow.

Q: Why is it important to file an accident report?

Having an official report on record provides an unbiased account of the accident, which can help if the other driver contests the details later. Reliable accident data from law enforcement is often referenced in legal cases, and it offers insurers an objective look at what occurred.

3. Exchange Information with the Other Driver

After speaking with the police, exchange essential information with the other driver involved. Be sure to collect their insurance details and contact information. This step is crucial to facilitate communication between your insurance companies for any potential claims. Avoid discussing fault directly with the other driver, as this can be misinterpreted and affect your case.

4. Gather Witness Statements

If there are witnesses at the scene, politely ask them to wait and provide statements to the police before leaving. Witnesses can offer valuable third-party accounts of the accident, which might support your version of events. It’s also wise to get the witness’s contact information if their account is needed later on. For more on how eyewitness testimonies play a role in accident claims, check out resources on ABC7 News.

5. Document the Scene with Photos and Videos

Photographic evidence can be a decisive factor in determining fault and the extent of damages. Take clear photos of the accident scene, any vehicle damage, license plates, and road conditions. Capture various angles to give a complete view of the accident. In hit-and-run situations, such evidence can significantly help authorities in their investigation. Statistics show that photo documentation aids significantly in processing claims, as outlined in Fox11 News.

6. Seek Medical Attention, Even If Injuries Seem Minor

Even if you feel fine, consider getting a medical evaluation. Injuries such as whiplash or concussions may not be immediately apparent but can become serious over time. Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and documentation related to your treatment, as these are crucial pieces of evidence if you pursue a personal injury claim.

Q: Should I see a doctor after a minor accident?

Yes. Often, adrenaline can mask symptoms of injuries, and seeing a healthcare professional helps ensure you’re safe. Additionally, documenting medical visits can be pivotal in any injury claim.

7. Retain Evidence of Lost Wages and Other Financial Impacts

If the accident impacts your ability to work, document any lost wages or diminished earning capacity. Keep all related documentation, such as pay stubs or employer letters, as evidence of the financial loss.

8. Request Video Footage from Nearby Cameras

If there’s any suspicion that the other driver might have caused the accident by running a red light or breaking another traffic law, ask the responding officer to check for nearby traffic cameras. This footage can provide irrefutable proof of what occurred.

Gathering thorough evidence at the scene is the most effective way to protect yourself after an accident. These steps help ensure that you have a comprehensive record of the event, which could be crucial for insurance claims or legal proceedings.

What If You Hit Someone After They Ran a Red Light?

Another scenario might be that another driver ran a red light, resulting in you hitting them. Since they violated the traffic law by running the light, they should be at fault.

However, this is another situation where gathering evidence is key. You will want to prove here that you had the right of way and didn’t break any traffic laws yourself.

Again, try to obtain a video of the intersection if a camera was there. If not, ask for witness statements and make sure you get a police report here as well.

What If a Third Party Caused the Accident?

There’s another situation where you might be involved in a car accident that a third party caused. Meaning, this other driver might have run a red light and swerve or break. It’s possible that this caused another accident that you were involved in.

This driver is also called a phantom driver. This driver caused the accident but has not damaged themselves.

You must gather evidence to prove that you were not at fault. Without damage, it’s not easy to prove that someone ran a red light, so you definitely need to gather any information to help prove your case.

However, take a look at your state’s laws because each state looks at fault differently. This is another scenario where you want to hire a car accident lawyer to help you. By hiring an attorney, you can make sure you’re not missing out on damages that you’re entitled to.

Other Types of Red Light Accidents

Aside from the accidents listed above, other situations can happen at a red light, like a left-turn accident.

This means a person turned left on a red arrow or ran through light at an intersection when the left arrow was green. You can also encounter a right turn accident and get hit at an intersection.

Another type of accident is a T-bone collision, which typically causes a lot of damage. This type of collision means a car crash happened when the front of one car hits the side of another at an intersection.

You can also end up in a rear-end collision, especially at a red light. If someone stops short or isn’t paying attention to the light, a rear-end collision can happen.

After this accident happens, make sure you report it to your insurance company.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Insurance companies have adjusters who speak with customers to help with car accident claims. When filing a claim, make sure you have your policy number, which can be found on your insurance card.

This is also when you should use all of the information you’ve gathered at the scene, including the location, date, and time that the accident occurred. Also, describe the accident to your insurance agent, including the other driver’s contact information and insurance information.

If you called the police after the accident, give your insurance agent the name of the police department and the report number.

Unfortunately, even after giving your insurance company this information, you may either be denied compensation for damages, or you won’t receive the full amount needed for medical bills and associated expenses.

This is again why it’s helpful to find a top accident lawyer in Las Vegas, Nevada, to receive help and justice.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV

In the case of a red light accident, you can become seriously injured and have broken bones, back injuries, organ damage, and whiplash. And along with injuries are the many medical visits that become costly.

You also may not be able to work due to the injuries you’ve sustained. Your vehicle will also likely need expensive repairs that add up to your overall cost.

Certain policies can help you regain the compensation you’re owed for these damages, including personal injury protection policies. From there, you can also take legal action against the person who hit you at a red light.

Again, the burden of proof is on you to show that the other driver either ran a red light or was at fault for the accident. A lawyer will help you in many ways after a red light accident, including conducting their own investigation.

A car accident attorney will find video and photographic evidence to help prove that the other driver was at fault. Your personal injury attorney can also help you gain compensation for medical bills and help you get more money from your insurance company.

This also removes the burden of spending time collecting information and remaining in frequent contact with your insurance company. Dealing with an accident is a time-consuming process that a car accident lawyer can handle for you.

Following the Necessary Steps After a Red Light Car Accident

When you’re in an accident at a red light, you might be afraid and in shock. By following the steps above, including checking any injuries, contacting the police, gathering evidence, and speaking to a lawyer, you can make sure you’re helping yourself out.

Hiring a lawyer will help release you from needing to do the continued work that it takes to prove you were not at fault and to get the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and damage to your vehicle.

For more information about how you can get legal representation after a car crash, contact us. You can find the right car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, NV that will work to help you regain the compensation you deserve!

***Disclaimer: This blog is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this blog, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.